Kingston Wharves yesterday commissioned its redeveloped Berth 7 on the Port of Kingston. The berth was reconstructed at a cost of US$30 million, and is part of a US$60 million slate of initiatives that were unveiled by Kingston Wharves.
Speaking at the Berth Commissioning, CEO Mark Williams said the berth redevelopment was aimed at building the company’s berthing capacity, enhancing customer service delivery and boosting competitiveness.
“Kingston Wharves has been on a continuous journey of transformation. At each stage of our development, we have made significant investment in our physical plant to keep abreast of changes in the industry and to stay ahead of the game,” the CEO said.
Operating nine berths on the port of Kingston on a continuous quay of 1655 metres, Kingston Wharves is a multi-purpose port terminal moving containerised, bulk and break-bulk cargo including motor vehicles and project cargo. KWL is also a regional hub for leading autoliners. Another key segment of KWL’s operations is its logistics and warehouse services.
The reconstruction of berth 7 involved the reconstruction of 182.5 metres of berth, capital dredging to 12.5 metres and extending the berth 15.24 metres seaward. Berth 7 will now form a contiguous quay with the previously developed Berths 8 and 9, which were reconstructed at a cost of US$26 million in 2008.
Mr. Williams also noted that the Berth 7 Development was part of a broader strategy for terminal optimisation. He explained that under this phase of development, the company will also undertake a major terminal reconfiguration and segmentation. KWL will remove all buildings from the terminal through a demolition exercise, including those in the back lands of Berth 7 to increase storage and yard capacity in support of the newly developed berth.
KWL will also effect greater cargo segmentation with designated segments for bulk and break bulk cargo on the one hand and containerised cargo on the other. He added that auxiliary services for the terminal will now be relocated to off-site facilities.
Mr. Williams also announced that Kingston Wharves will enter the next phase of its development with a US$120 million series of investments to further improve its physical plant and work with port partners to bring public order to the port community.
“As many of you know, Kingston Wharves does not rest on its laurels. High on the agenda for the next phase of transformation is the redevelopment of Berth 6; equipment acquisition and construction of a new facility in support of our motor vehicle business,” the CEO said.
Berth Commissioning: CEO of Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL) Mark Williams (second left) shakes hands with US Ambassador to Jamaica His Excellency Nickolas Perry (second right) as KWL’s Chairman Jeffrey Hall and President and CEO of the Port Authority of Jamaica Professor Gordon Shirley look. Mr. Williams and Mr. Hall hosted a function to commission the redeveloped Berth 7 on its terminal on the Port of Kingston. The berth reconstruction was an investment of US$30 million, and is aimed at enhancing KWL’s capacity, efficiency and competitiveness.
Kingston Wharves commissioned its newly redeveloped Berth 7 on the Port of Kingston. The berth redevelopment project was an investment of US$30 million and represents part of a US$60 million slate of initiatives that was announced by KWL in 2022. Over 182.5m of berth were reconstructed, dredged and extended seaward, and will boost KWL’s capacity to host larger vessels simultaneously. KWL’s CEO Mark Williams (fourth right) and Chairman Jeffrey Hall (third right) hosted industry partners at the ceremony, including US Ambassador to Jamaica His Excellency Nickolas Perry (fifth from right), President and CEO of the Port Authority of Jamaica Professor Gordon Shirley (left) and Chairman Alok Jain (second left). Deputy Chairman of KWL Grantley Stephenson (fifth left), Commissioner of Customs Velma Ricketts-Walker and President of Seaboard Marine Eddie Gonzalez also participated in the moment. Representatives of Brayman FSI Construction and Shoreline Foundation, contractors for the project, were also on hand for the commissioning. They included (from left) Kevin Cooke, Group Manager at Brayman FSI Construction; Donoi Hartley, Project Engineer at Brayman; Roy Payton, Foreman; Craig Francis of Deryck A. Gibson Limited and Charles Devito, CEO of Shoreline Foundation.
